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STEPHENVILLE, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will have a slightly different look when they close out the 2021 season on Saturday night on the road at Tarleton State.

The Bears (5-5) will be playing without sixth-year junior quarterback Breylin Smith, who suffered a broke ankle in last week's game against Stephen F. Austin. The signal-calling duties will fall to third-year redshirt freshman Darius Bowers of Fayetteville or second-year redshirt freshman Hunter Loyd of Rogers.

Both have played sparingly this season, while Smith has played in 43 career games and is the No. 2 quarterback in UCA history, trailing only UCA head coach Nathan Brown in passing yards and passing touchdowns. 

The Bears played without three offensive starters in last week's loss to SFA, including linemen Cameron Webb and Bakarius Collier, along with All-American wide receiver Lujuan Winningham. Collier will be back this week after a death in the family last week, while Winningham will be a game-time decision with an ankle injury. Webb is out for the season.

The Bears and Texans (5-5) will be meeting for the first time. Tarleton is in its transition period after moving up from NCAA Division II, much like UCA did in 2006. The Texans are competing in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), along with former Southland Conference members SFA, Sam Houston, Abilene Christian and Lamar.

The Texans have lost two of their last three games, to No. 1 Sam Houston and to ACU, with a win over 1-8 Lamar. However, they are 4-1 at home at Memorial Stadium this season.

The Bears, who are 3-1 over their last four games, would secure their seventh consecutive winning season, and 11th in the past 12 years, with a win on Saturday. 

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Coverage will be on The Bear 91.3, The Point 94.1 and ESPN+.